Fire Inspectors Close 24 Kamchatka Nightclubs

PETROPAVLOVSK KAMCHATSKY, Russia -- The prosecutor-general in the Kamcahtka Krai in Russia's Far East says that 24 nightclubs will be closed due to fire-safety violations, representing nearly half of the sites inspected, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

The clubs were among 56 nightclubs and other entertainment venues that were checked in the Kamchatka Peninsula this week.

The main fire-safety violations found were the absence of a fire-alarm system, lack of an alert system to evacuate people in case of fire, blocked emergency exits, and the presence of inflammable subtsances on the premises.

A nationwide fire-safety inspection campaign was launched after a deadly fire at the Lame Horse nightclub in Russia's midwestern city of Perm on December 5 killed 148 people and wounded dozens of others.

In Moscow today, fire-safety inspectors announced the closure of six nightclubs because of violations.